Advancing Access to Telehealth Act
House Bill Would Make Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities Permanent
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Makes Medicare’s expanded telehealth options permanent by removing the current end date and tying coverage to the start of the public health emergency period.
- Keeps Medicare coverage for telehealth visits from more types of health professionals, not just a limited list.
- Continues allowing federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services under Medicare.
- Allows certain Medicare telehealth visits to be done by audio-only (phone) going forward, not just during a temporary window.
- Removes some Medicare rules that required in-person visits for certain care (including some mental health services), making telehealth easier to use long-term.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesTelehealth has become 'essential' for older Medicare patients
Discusses the 2026 spending bill (H.R. 7148) which extended Medicare telehealth waivers through 2027. It highlights the 'Advancing Access to Telehealth Act' (H.R. 6296) as the primary legislative vehicle aimed at making these pandemic-era flexibilities permanent for seniors and rural clinics.
Expanded Medicare Telehealth in 2025
Explains the status of Medicare telehealth rules heading into 2025. It details how the Advancing Access to Telehealth Act seeks to eliminate the 'telehealth cliff' by making permanent the ability for patients to receive care at home and expanding the types of providers eligible for reimbursement.
Lawmakers push to make pandemic-era telehealth permanent
Coverage of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing where the Advancing Access to Telehealth Act was debated. Lawmakers from both parties argued that telehealth has become an essential tool for health equity, particularly for those with mobility issues or living in provider deserts.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Advancing Access to Telehealth Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(1)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.